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Rivers refuses to apologize to women held captive

Associated Press, AP 8:42 p.m. EDT April 24, 2014

The family house of Gina DeJesus, one of the three women held captive for a decade, stands decorated by well wishers May 7, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. Three brothers have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of three women found safe in a home after being missing for a decade, authorities said. There were more questions than answers the day after the stunning turn of events that began with a frantic arm sticking out of a screen door, a woman screaming for help, and a neighbor kicking in the door to free her in a working-class neighborhood of the city in the American heartland. Ariel Castro and his brothers - Pedro, 54, and Onil, 50 have been detained, authorities said. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND AFP/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND (AP) - Joan Rivers refuses to apologize for comparing living in her daughter's guest room with the captivity of three women kidnapped in Cleveland.

Rivers and her daughter discussed their reality show Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show and she complained about her living arrangements, saying, "Those women in the basement in Cleveland had more space."

In a statement sent to The Associated Press by her publicist, Rivers says it was a joke she made as a comedian. She says the women are free and people should move on. She says she's "thrilled they are OK."

A statement from attorneys for Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus had called Rivers' remark hurtful and said she should apologize.

Berry, DeJesus and a third woman escaped from kidnapper Ariel Castro's home last year.